Valve



Patented Dec. 25, 1951 I ;UNlTEDi f STATES PATENT orrl-cs Medlar,Oreland, 'Pa.; said Medlar 'assignor to Fox Products Company,Philadelphia, Pa.,- a

corporation -Claims.

7 This invention-relates to a watering device and morefparticularly toan automatic valve for use with a type of watering trough in which oneend of thetrough rests on the ground or any other suitable support, andin-which the opposite end filling operation.

An important object of the present invention isgto devise an improvedconstruction and arrangemento'f gravity 'latch,in which, instead ofbeingsuspended from its upper end, as in said Pruitt patent, the latchis supported at its lower end, so that it falls away out of engagementby gravity when released.

Another object is to provide an improved valve including a novelarrangement of parts in which individual standard componentparts areutilized whereby the advantages of mass production methods and automaticmachines can be used in the manufacture and assembly of the valve.

Still another object of the'invention is to provide anovel and improvedvalve in which the individual componentsw of the valve mechanism arephysically independent so that they are free to movein the valvechambers in such a way that the tendency of the valve, to become cloggedis reduced to a minimum, and so-that they may be readily dis-assembledfor cleaning.

Otherand further objects will become readily apparent from the followingdescription when considered in connection with the'accompanyingdrawings, illustrating an embodimentjof the. invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational viewfof a watering device'using a valve madein accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view of the automatic valveshowingfth'e, valvesfheld in the open jpositionfb'y'the gravity latch;

' Figure 3 is an elevational' view of the valve showing the latch initheinoperative position;

Application Augu t 20, 194s,'s Y

' 2 'Figure 5 is an enlarged partial sectional elevation of the valveparts; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view on line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designatesimilar parts throughout the several views, the invention is shown asapplied to a chicken watering trough of the type in which one end restson the ground or is pivotally'attached to a suitable support, and theopposite end is suspended by'a suitable Wire or chaingto an arm on thecontrol mechanism of the automatic valve for controlling the level ofthe water in the trough, As the water is taken from the trough, thereduction in weight permits the valve to open partially to permitadditional water to flow into the trough. The

increase in weight of the water in the trough then again closes thevalve. The'valve assembly comprises fundamentally a structure having twoorifices in series with valves for controlling each of the orifices inwhich one valve isno'rmally adapted to be closed under the influence ofthe pressure of the water source, and the other valve is adapted to beclosed in the opposite direction by the valve control mechanism andagainst the pressure of the water source. The valve assembly H] isoperably associated between a suitable water supply pipe I I and thewatering receptacle or trough l2. The lower end of the valve casing isso arranged as to direct the water into the watering trough l2 With'aminimum of splashing. The end of the water trough adjacent the valveassembly In is suspended by a suitable wire or bail i l from a valveactuating arm H, the opposite end of the trough l2 being pivotallysupported at H) by bracket on a suitable support 6.

The valve assembly Ill comprises a valve housing I8 having what ineffect is a two-way valve arrangement by which communication through thehousing is shut off when the two-way valve is in either of two extremepositions; both of the valves being open at an intermediate position fora purpose which will be more readily apparent as this descriptionproceeds. The valve housing I8 is provided with't'wo aligned bores orpassageways, I9 and 2il'extending inwardly from the opposite ends'of thevalve housing. The two .bores are separated by a partition or solidportion 2|, the opposite side's of which are providediwithj annularvalve seats 22 and 23.] The two valve seats being at the opposite sidesof the partition zl in effect constitute two orifices in series in thevalve housing; The valves,"pe'r s'e, are in'the form of i suitableresilient gaskets 24 and26. Adjacent each of the outer sides of thegaskets are suitable identical rigid blocks or Weights 21 and 28 whichare more clearly shown in Figure 5. As shown in the latter figure, theseweights or blocks are polygonal in shape and extend in an axialdirection a suflicient amount so that they will not cant and becomelodged in the respective bores l9 and 20. The blocks 21 and 28 are ofsuch size as to have a loose fit inside of the valve housing,

and by reason of their polygonal shape sufficient area is providedbetween the blocks and the bores or passageways l9 and to provide thedesired rate of flow of water when both of the valves are open. In otherwords, the blocks have axially extending guiding edges at the corners ofthe polygon loosely engaging theinside of the passageways, and theportions of the blocks between such edges are spaced sufficiently fromthe walls of the passageways to permit the desired flow v of water. 7 Anindependent valve stem 29 is disposed within the restricted bore of thepartition or solid portion 2| and engages the opposed adjacent faces ofthe gaskets Hand; 25. The valve: stem is smaller than the bore 25 so asto provide a fluid passage between thetwo orifices. Also the valve stem29 is longer than the distance between the outer surfaces of the valveseats 22 and 23 so that when one valve member is against its associatedseat the other valve member will between the inner walls of'the bores ofthe valve casing and the different parts of the valve, such astheblocks,- the valve gaskets, and the intervening valve stem. Preferablyall of the parts are physically independent of each other to facilitateassembly and to permit relative movemerit therebetween and'are free tomove in the valve casing which'tendsto prevent the formation of mineraldeposits and to break loose or dislodge any foreign particles which maycollect or'i the valve seats or in the connecting bore. R

Particularly, the valve stem 25 prevents the bore of the partition 21,which is the smallest'o'p'e'ningijn the valve housing, from becomingclogged. Also, since the valve gaskets are free to move from side tosideof the valve casing, there is less tendency for the mineral depositsto become encrusted on the surfaces of the valve gaskets which come incontact with the valve seats.

Although the exact relation between the size oftheblooks, thevalvegaskets and the bore 25 of the partition is not extremely critical,there are'certain relative limits for the best practical operation. Itwill be noted from the drawing that 'thebor'es l9 and 20 are preferablyof; the same diameter. It has been found that the area between theinside of the bores and the hexagonal blocks provides sufficientclearance'to permit thenecessary flow of water." It will be apparentthat} the diameter of the valve disks'must be small enough to permit thewater to new around them but in no event should these valves be lessthan the combined sum of the radius of'one of the bores T91 201, plusthe radius of the bore 25.

It will be obvious that. the diameter of thesevalve'ga'skets must besuch that'when the valve -by the inner edge of the end of the supplypipe II. The threads in the upper end of the valve casing l8 are sodesigned that the supply pipe i l screwslin the proper distance so thatthe valve 24 and the weight 21 cannot move far enough away from thevalve seat 22 to permit the valve 24 becominglodged in the passageway 20nor to permit, the valve stem 29 coming out of the bore 25.

The mass of the weights 2'! and 28 is not critical but preferably is ofsuch value as to reduce chattering of the upper valve 24. The primarypurpose of these weights or blocks is to serve as backing members forthe valve gaskets 2' 4 and 26 and also as spacers; They are preferablymade from standard fabrication metal stock in order to reduce cost.

7 As previously mentioned,- suitable locking means are providedforholding the valves in an intermediateposition to permit the water toflow into" the trough, the locking meansbeingfresponsive togravity torevert to the-inoperative locking position after sufficient water hasflowed into the. trough to lower the operating lever. H. To. this end asuitable bracket 31 is suitably secured to the valve housing l8 by meansfor example, of screws 32. Bracket 3! is provided with an ear 33 towhich the valve operating lever ll is pivotal-ly'connected by means of asuitable headed rivet 34. The inner end of the valve operating lever I1is notched at Fla and the lever terminates in a head Ilb which engagesthe lower weight'28 The bracket 3] is also provided with ahorizontal arm3'Bwhich extends atright angles to the part of the bracket which isattached to thevalve housing IS; A suitable biasing'spring 3'l,'thelower erid of which ishookdin a hole 38- in the valve operating leverIT, is adjustably anchored to" the bracketarm 3 6 by 'meanstf a bolt39am; a thumb nut-4o. 3

It will be noted froni the above description andby referring. to thedrawings, that the mechanism for operating the valves is carried.entirely by the bracket 3| which "is're ovamy supp rted 7 ori the valveassembly In by means of the screws 32 Accordingly, when, as isoccasionally necessary,.it is desired to clean thevalve; the bracket 3'!and'valv'e controlling mechanism can be completely removed from'thevalve assembly and the lower valveand thevalve stem 29 can be co'r'mpletely removed. from the valve assembly. Also, it will be readilyunderstood that when the valve operating mechanism is removed, thevalve'24 will close to shut off the wat'er. This constructionconstitutes a great improvement in valves of this t e. v

v The tension on the springft'i' can be varied by adjusting the positionOf thenut 40, the tension on the spring controlling the level of theWati to be maintained in the trough "l2, as will be apparent from thesubsequent description. Since the valve assembly is'usually mounted inthe vertical position as shown, it will be understood that under theinfluence" 6f gravity the pressure of the water and the tension ofthespring v31 (assuming "the trough is'empty) the up!) valve atrzogsea2'5 gasket: 24xwill close the: upper orifice. It 'will also be-seen fromthe drawings and the fore.- going description that downward movement. ofthe outer, end of the valve operating lever [1 will cause both of thevalves to be moved upward in unison, thereby moving the upper valve 24from itsseat and-moving the lower: valve 24 toward its associated seat.Therefore, when suflicient .water. accumulates in the trough to overcomethe influence of thewater pressure on valve 24 and the tension spring31, .the lower'valve 26:will be closed against its associated orifice.Also, it will be. seen that if the weight is taken oif of the arm H, thespring 31 will move the outer endof the arm llupwardly so that the valve24 will close under the influence of the water pressure. ..By

adjusting the tension on the spring 31, a suitable biasing force isapplied to the lever arm IT to oppose the weight of the trough and thewater therein so that the level of the water in the trough. atv whichthe valve closes can be regulated.:.

When it is desired to clean the trough l2 it is usually necessary toremove the weight of the water and trough from the valve control leverarm I1. It will be apparent from the above description that when this isdone the valve 24 will immediately close under the influence of thewater pressure. As above stated, the clean empty trough, when the emptytrough is hung on the arm l1 will not be of sufficient weight to openthe valve 24 to fill the trough. For this reason the present inventionprovides a novel gravity latch mechanism'45 which can be used totemporarily lock the lever l1 in an intermedi ate position whereby boththe valves 24 and 26 are in open position to permit the water to flow.

into the trough I2. The latch is so arranged that as soon as the weightof the water in the trough becomes suflicient tolower the outer end ofthe valve operating arm l1, against the tensionof'spring 31, the gravitylatch will automaticallyfall to a position so that it can no longerprevent the, valve 24 from closing. To this end this gravity latchcomprises a. latch member 41 which is supported on and loosely pivotedat 48 tothe valve operating arm I1. The upper extremity 41a of the latchmember 41 is made parrow .bynotches 41b and 410. It will be noted thatthe notch 41b continues a greater distance from the upper end than doesthe notch 410. The upper end of this latch 41 extends through arectangular opening 49 in thebracket arm 36; the length of the opening49 being less than the width of the main bodyof the'latch member 41sothat the shoulder 41d limits the upward movement of the member 41through-the opening 491 The position of the shoulder 41d on the member 41 serves.as a stop to-prevent the spring 31 from raising the outer endof the arm l1 too high. The shoulder 41e is so positioned on the member41 that when it engages the underside of the bracket arm 36, the valveoperating lever arm l1 will be in such a position asto place the valves24 and 26 in their intermediate open positions so that the water canflow into the watering-trough. It is very important to note thattheopening 49 in the arm 36 is displaced laterally-with respect to thepivotal connection 48 between the valve operating lever arm l1 andthelatch 41 sothat thecenter of gravity of the'latch member-41 will alwaysbe to one side of the pivotal connection 48 when the valve is mounted inthe vertical position as shown in the drawings. This isimportant sothatwhen thenotch 41a becomes disengaged fromv the underside of thebracket arm 35, the upper end of the latch member 41 as shown in thedrawings will move by gravity laterally tofthe left so that. theshoulder 41c will clearthe right-hand edgeof the opening'49. This putsthe latch member 41 in the inoperative locking position so that in theevent the weightof the water in the trough should be removed from thearm [1, the valve 24 will. be closed to cut off the flow of water. Itwillbe apparent that the gravity latch can be very readily reset bymerely pushing down on the valve operating lever [1 while at the sametime pushing the upper end of the latchmember 41 to the right as shownin the drawings so. that the shoulderi41e engages the underside of thebracket arm 36. a When the gravity latch is released and moves to itsinoperative position, the valve actuating lever arm H is free to move upand'down under the influence of the varying weight of the water in thetrough l2 and the tension of the spring '31. The gravity latch willusually. be set in the locked position after the cleaning ofthe' troughwhen the trough will be empty and it will hold the valve opentemporarily to permit sufficient water to flow into the trough tooperate the latch device. The gravity latch made in accordance with thepresent invention is a very important feature,

- instead of relying ongravity, a suitable spring .(not shown) could beprovided for resiliently urging the latch member 41 in acounterclockwisedirection about the pivotal connection- 48 as viewed inFigures 2 and 3. With such a construction, when th arm !1 is moveddownwardly so that the shoulder Me of the latch member 41 is disengagedfrom the underside of the bracket 36, the upper end of the latch member41 would move to the left and become inoperative thereafter when the armI1 is again moved upwardly. Although'the invention has been described inconsiderable detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat many variations are possib e without departing from the inventiveconcept. It is therefore desired that the invention not be limitedexcept insofar as is made necessary by the. prior art and by theappended claims.

We claim:

1. A valve of the type described, comprising a casing, a plurality of.aligned'boresextending inwardly from the opposite ends of said casing, arestricted partition in said casing between said bores and having anopening therethrough forming a communication between said bores, valveseats on the opposite sides of said partition around said openingthereby constituting valve orificesand seats, a valve member associatedwith each of said orifices, an independent valve stem of greater lengththan said partition extending through the opening in said partition andoperably associated between said valve members whereby the latter arecaused to move in unison under certain conditions in such relation thatwhen one valve is in closed position the otherwill be in open position,a valve control arm pivotally connected to said housing, one end of saidarm being operably associated with one of said valves forpositivemovement thereof, and latch means pivotally intercoupled withsaid arm and adapted to be manually moved into frictional engagementwith abutment means on said casing when said arm is in an unloadedcondition to maintain the arm in valve opening position, said latchmeans being oriented relative to thepivotal coupling with'said' arm tobe great as. oneehalt the sum of the diameter of the. borezof. saidcasing and the diameter. of the bore of said restricted partition.-

4: A valve of the type described,.comprising a casing; a plural-ityofaligned bores, extending in wardly from theroppo'siteends. of said.casing, a partition in said casing betweensaid home and having a.restricted'opening therethrough forming a communication between said.bores; valve seatson. the opposite sides of said partition around saidopening, thereby constituting valve orifices and seats, a valve memberassociated with each of sai'dorifices, an independentvalve stem ofgreater length than said partitionextending through the opening in.saidpartition and operably. associated between said valve memberswhereby the latterare caused to move in unison under certain conditionsin. such relation that when one valve is in closed position the otherwill be in open position, a bracket at tached to said valve casing, saidbracket having a. laterally extending arm and a laterally extending,ear, a'valve control arm pivotally connested to. said ear and havingoneend thereof opera-hly engaging one of said valves for moving' thelatter to closed position, means for resiliently biasing said. arm formovement in the opposite direction, a latch member freely piv' ote'dtosaid control arm, said latch member adapted to selectively engage saidlaterally extending bracket. arm to hold said valve control arm in anintermediate position and maintaining both of saidvalves opensimultaneously.

5. A valve of the type'described, comprising-a casing-a plurality ofaligned bores,,extending. inwardly from the opposite ends of saidcasing, a partition in said casing between saidbores and havingarestricted openingtherethrough forming a communication betweensaidbores, valve seats on the oppositesides of said partition around saidopening thereby constituting valve orifices and seats, a valve memberassociated" with each of said orifices, an independent valve stem ofgreater length than said pz'irti'tionextending through the openingin'said partition and operably' associated between said valve mamberswhereby the latter are caused to move in unison under certain'conditionsin such relation that when one valve is 'in closed position the otherwill be in open position, a bracket at-. tached to said valve casing,said' bracket having a laterally extending arm and a laterally "ex--tending ear, a valve controlarm. pivotally cone nected to'said ear andhaving one end thereofoperablvengagingi one of saidvalves for moving thelatter to closed position, means for resiliently biasing said arm. formovement in .the. opposite direction, a latch memberfreely pivoted tosaid control arm at a point on'the opposite side of the pivotalconnection with said ear, said. latch member adapted to selectivelyengage said laterally extending bracket arm to hold said valve controlarm. in. an intermediate; .positionr and 8 maintainabothxot. saidvalvesopen. simultaneous: lyiu'ntiljsaidi. control. arm is loaded: toapredetermined condition; an combinationas set forth in claim' 4 inwhich said bracket-is,.detachably secured to said valvecasingwherebysaid bracket and. valvercontrolmechanism can: be bodily.removed. as a .unit

comprising a; valve housing havingv aligned .pas-

sageways: extending inwardly from the" opposite ends thereof, and asolid portion betweensald passagewaysjhaving a restricted b'oreforming-a communicationbeiaveen saidpassageways, valve seats formed onsaid solid portion at the opposite ends of and surrounding said bore, avalve mam-'- bersubstanti-allysmaller than. said passageways associated.with each-oftsai'd seats, a separate, rigid block arranged to bear uponeach valve member, said blocksbeing shiftable longitudinally' ofsaidpassa'geways andihaving a plurality of axially extending guidingedges'loosely engagingtherinside;thereof,..and the portions of saidblocksbetweensaid edges being spacedsufiicientl-y from the: walls ofthepassageways to-permit the desired flowfofwatr, said valve members beingfreely movable: laterally, independentlyof said blocks, with. respect.to. said seats, an independent valve stem of a length greater than thatof said solid :portion extending throughsaid bore and operativelyiassociated between said valve members whereby the latter. are caused tomove illlllHiSOIl under certain conditions in such relationthat when onevalve member is in closed position, the. other will be" in openposition, said valve-stembeing: of substantially smaller diameter. thansaid bore, so as to provide a fluid passage' between itself and thewalls of "the bore, a valve control arm pivotally connectedto saidhousing, one end-of said arm being operatively associated with one ofsaid blocks for positively movingsaid block's, valve members and stemwhen swung in one direction, on its pivot, means biasing. said arm inthe other direction, and a manually set latch operatively associatedwith said am for temporarily lockingthe same against the force of' said:biasing meanslwith both valve members in open position, said latch beingconstructed to automatically return to inoperative position when saidarm ismoved further against-the 'force of said biasing means.

QJA valve mechanism of the "type described comprising a vaive housinghaving aligned passageways, circular in cross} section extending axiallyinward'fro'rn the bp'pos'ite ends' thereof, and asolid portion betweensaid passageways having a'res'trictedjbore forming a communication'between: said passageways, valve seats formed on said'solid portionatthe opposite ends stand I surrounding said bore, a valve member ofsubstantially smaller diameter than said passageway's'associatedwith'each of said -seats, a separate rigid polygonal block arranged tobear upon each valve member and freely .movablesin respectivepassageways, said. blocks being of sumcien-t length axially to preventcanting:

and binding, in said passageways, an independent valve stem ofa lengthgreater than-that of "said solid portion -,;extending through said ,boreand operatively associated between said valve members, whereby thelatter are caused to move in unison under certain conditions, in suchrelation that when one valve member is in closed position, the otherwill be in open position, said valve stem being of substantially smallerdiameter than said bore to afford a fluid passage between itself and thewalls of the bore, a valve control arm pivotally connected to saidhousing and having its end shaped to project into one of saidpassageways and engage the polygonal block therein, whereby when swungon its pivot in one direction said arm serves to positively move bothvalve members, and means biasing said arm in the other direction.

10. A valve mechanism of the type described comprising an elongatedvalve housing adapted to be positioned vertically and having a fluidpassageway extending therethrough, a pair of valve seats in saidpassageway, valve means cooperating with said seats to control the flowof fiuid through said passageway, a valve control arm pivotally mountedon said housing and extending generally horizontally therefrom, one endof said arm being operatively connected with said valve means forpositively moving the same when swung on its pivot in one direction,means biasing said arm in the other direction, said arm being movable toeither one of two extreme positions in which said valve means serves toshut off the flow of fluid through said passageway, and to anintermediate position in which said valve means permits the flow offluid, a second arm fixed to said housing and projecting therefromsubstantially parallel with and above said control arm, and a latchmember for temporarily locking said control arm in said intermediateposition against the force of said biasing means, said latch memberbeing freely supported at its lower end on said valve control arm, itsupper end comprising a narrow portion separated from the body of thelatch member by a shoulder, said fixed arm having a rectangular openingof a length greater than the width of the said latch member below saidshoulder, through which opening said latch member extends, whereby saidshoulder may engage the end of said opening in said fixed arm, and isheld in engagement therewith by the force of said biasing means, saidopening being located to one side of the point of support of said latchmember, so that said latch member occupies an inclined position whenengaged, and is automatically movable laterally by gravity out oflocking engagement with said second arm when said valve control arm ismoved against the force of said biasing means from the position in whichit was locked.

VIRGIL H. PRUITT. LEWIS A. MEDLAR;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 612,947 Kiernan Oct. 25, 18981,055,673 Smedberg Mar. 11, 1913 1,078,875 Pyle Nov. 18, 1913 1,201,164Ferguson Oct. 10, 1916 1,415,178 Imschweiler May 9, 1922 1,606,191Siebenmann Nov. 9, 1926 1,653,525 White Dec. 20, 1927 2,200,830Beharrell May 14, 1940 2,333,060 Turner Oct. 26, 1943 2,410,105 RemusOct. 29, 1946 2,512,839 Pruitt June 27, 1950

